Using Drill Batteries for More Than Just Tools
Many of us RVers have a drill on hand for the occasional repair or DIY project.
Even though space is limited in an RV, I always leave a spot for our drill, it’s come in handy more than a few times through the years.
Related Product: Use this portable power station & solar panel bundle by Ecoflow (click to view on Amazon) to power your RV and charge your drill batteries.
Our drill came with two batteries, and since we boondock a lot of the time, it felt like we could be using those batteries for more than just the occasional project that required the drill.
Turns out there are a lot of cool products out there that are powered by drill batteries. Things like flashlights, fans, inverters, stereos, and even coffee makers that use drill batteries.
Each major power tool brand like Ryobi, Makita, Dewalt, Bosch, and Milwaukee has its own version of products that can be powered using its batteries.
As you might already know, each brand uses a different style of battery, and they are usually not compatible with each other.
That means if you have a Ryobi drill and batteries, you won’t be able to use Makita products.
Because of this, I’ve tried to add the version made by each major drill brand to this list.
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1. Drill Battery Flashlights & Lanterns
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
A flashlight is always a useful item when you are camping or spending time outdoors. Even RVers need a flashlight every now and again.
The awesome thing about these flashlights is they are powered by rechargeable drill batteries, so you don’t have to worry about keeping extra regular batteries around.
The style of flashlight in the table above is a combination of a handheld light, and a work light you can set on the ground and angle in any direction you want it.
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They all have pivoting heads that can be tilted up or down.
The lumens are different on each one, some are brighter than others, but even the weakest option is going to be bright enough for you to see what you’re doing.
Every light is LED and very efficient.
They each are powered by the corresponding brand of battery. So if you have Makita tools get the Makita version of a drill battery powered flashlight.
2. USB Phone Charger Adapter
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
A USB charger is useful anywhere. These adapters are used to turn drill batteries into battery banks for electronic devices.
Some are more powerful than others, but if you want a useful gadget that can charge your phone, any of these will work great.
The most advanced is the Ryobi inverter/charger.
All of the other major power tool brands only make USB adapters, but Ryobi has taken it a step further and added an AC wall outlet with a 150 watt output to theirs.
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One thing to note about the Ryobi is it works best with larger drill batteries, like the 6 or 9 amp hour ones.
The smaller options won’t be able to output nearly as much power and the only one truly capable of outputting the full 150 watts is the 9 amp hour battery.
But the AC outlet is very handy for running or charging electronics that don’t require a lot of power.
3. Portable Fans
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Sometimes a fan to get the air moving is all you need to feel more comfortable when camping in hot weather.
A small portable fan can also be useful when using a propane heater in cold weather to move hot air from the heater so it spreads out inside your RV or tent.
These drill battery powered fans are all portable and powerful.
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The Milwaukee and Ryobi versions can be powered with a drill battery or be plugged into a wall outlet.
The fan you can get mostly depends on the brand of drill batteries you have, but each company has standard portable fan that’s perfect for RVing and camping.
No matter which one you end up with, a portable fan is a great gadget that can be useful anywhere.
4. Cordless Vacuum
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
We’ve heard of rechargeable handheld vacuums, but have you ever tried a vacuum that uses a drill battery for power?
One of the biggest complaints about battery-powered cordless vacuums is the battery eventually wears out and won’t hold a charge.
With a drill battery powered vacuum an old worn out battery won’t be a concern. It’s completely removable and replaceable.
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5. Portable Outdoor Radio/Speaker
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
There are lots of portable outdoor speakers out there, but many of them don’t have built in radios.
Many power tool companies make excellent portable radios that use drill batteries for power.
They are very durable and usually have Bluetooth. You can use them as either a regular radio or connect them to your phone.
One benefit to the radio is you can listen to music outside without having to mess with your phone.
It’s also great for emergency situations when tuning into an emergency radio station is crucial.
See Also: Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers Compared & Reviewed
All of the drill battery powered speakers in the table above are both speakers and FM radios.
Most can connect to your phone via Bluetooth or AUX input, but the Milwaukee brand doesn’t have Bluetooth so you have to use the AUX port to play music from your phone.
Many have just radio and just Bluetooth speaker options available as well.
Note that these are the portable options that don’t have drill battery chargers built in even though many of them can also be AC powered.
Other Drill Battery Gadgets For Camping & RV
Here are some other cool drill battery powered gadgets that are good for travel, RVing, camping, and emergency use.
Makita Cordless Coffee Maker
Makita makes the coolest gadgets that can be powered with 18 or 12 volt Makita drill batteries.
So far, they are the only ones who are making a portable coffee maker.
One thing to consider about this cool coffee brewing machine is that it’s not going to be exactly like your coffee maker at home.
12 volt coffee makers are always a lot slower at brewing, but they still make excellent coffee.
You can use either 12V CXT or 18V LXT Makita batteries, and you only need one to power the coffee maker.
When using the more powerful 18V LXT battery it takes around 5 minutes to brew just one cup of coffee.
For a regular coffee maker that’s forever, but for a portable battery powered option, that’s actually not bad.
If you’ve ever used a 12 volt coffee maker that plugs into a cigarette lighter, like this one (click to view on Amazon) it can take a long time to get just one cup of coffee.
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One 5ah 18V battery can make around three 5 oz. cups of coffee.
Maybe it’s not the most efficient machine, but sometimes a fresh cup of coffee is worth using a little extra battery power.
This isn’t a regular drip coffee maker either, it’s a more compact pod style coffee maker, which means there is no large tray for a coffee filter.
It doesn’t use K-cups either. Instead, it uses coffee pods.
Coffee pods (click to view on Amazon) are a lot like tea bags, but with coffee inside.
They are super easy to use, make transporting coffee much easier, there’s no mess to clean up, and they’re pretty budget friendly.
Included with the Makita Cordless Coffee Maker is a metal Makita cup that fits perfectly underneath the coffee spout.
The design is very compact and portable with a handle on top you can carry it around with.
There’s also a sensor built in to stop the machine from brewing if it runs out of water.
If you are a coffee lover who wants an easy way to brew a fresh hot cup of coffee anywhere, the Makita is not only the best but the only drill battery powered option.
Makita Portable Cooler
Makita is the winner when it comes to the number of gadgets made that can be powered using their batteries.
This portable cooler can be powered using 1 or 2 18V LXT batteries for ultimate portability.
It can also be powered using an included 12 volt plug or an AC power cord.
This is mostly intended for use as a cooler. It has 4 cooling modes for 15, 30, 40, and 50°F.
This is not a freezer, even though it’s advertised to be able to go below freezing.
The temperature these kinds of coolers can get down to depends a lot on the outside temperature.
I wouldn’t depend on it to keep food frozen, but to keep food cold it’s perfect.
There are also two warming modes to keep food hot if you are transporting food that needs to stay warm. It has settings for 130 or 140°F.
There’s an LED screen on the front with buttons you can use to change the temperature settings, see the current temperature, and the battery levels.
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There’s also a USB port you can use to charge devices.
The capacity is 21 quarts (20 liters). It can fit up to 30 regular sized cans.
It measures 24 1/2 inches long, 13 3/8 inches wide, and 14 5/8 inches tall. It weighs 32 lbs when empty.
There are two wheels and a large handle built in so you can wheel it around.
There are a lot of 12 volt fridges and coolers on the market today, but not very many of them can be powered with batteries.
The Makita Portable Cooler is an awesome choice for campers, RVers, travelers, and anyone who has Makita drill batteries.
Conclusion About Drill Battery Powered Gadgets
It’s unfortunate that the products you are going to be able to use are limited to the brand of drill batteries you have, but most companies have at least the basics available.
It’s surprising how many different gadgets power tool companies make, and they’re a great way to make use of those awesome lithium drill batteries you probably don’t use very often.
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All of products in this article are made by the original power tool companies.
I haven’t included any 3rd party options but there are a lot out there if you want to look for more kinds of gadgets.
My recommendation is to stick with the original brands if you want quality and to keep your drill batteries in good condition.
Have any more questions about camping and RV gadgets that are powered by drill batteries? Leave a comment below.
